GENEVA, N.Y.—Defense dominated today's non-conference lacrosse showdown between Hobart and Colgate inside the Poole Family Dome. The Raiders came into the game averaging 14 goals per game, but managed just half of that against the Statesmen. It proved to be just enough.
 
Colgate goalie Andrew Lehrman made a career-high 21 saves to backstop the Raiders to a 7-6 win over Hobart. Statesmen first-year goalie Michael Johnson was also impressive, making 14 saves for the second straight game.
 
Both teams fired 42 shots. Colgate won the ground ball battle 33-26 on the strength of a 14-6 edge in the fourth quarter. Both teams deployed a 10-man ride that made clearing a challenge. The Raiders were 23-of-33 on the clear while the Statesmen were 19-of-26. On special teams, Hobart scored twice on four man-up opportunities, while Colgate was 0-for-5.
 
Senior Seamus Schofield won 9-of-15 faceoffs. Junior long-stick midfielder Nickolas Sotiropoulos collected a career-high matching five ground balls. First-year defenseman Brady McEnroe made his first start and recorded two caused turnovers, as did classmate Colman Craft. The Statesmen offense was led by three players with two points, senior Cade Dino had a goal and an assist and senior David Peterkin and first-year Gordon Bennett each posted two assists.

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Colgate had two players with two points each, sophomore Casey Quinson scored twice and senior Hunter Drouin had two helpers. Quinson also added a game-high six ground balls and a game-high three caused turnovers. Senior Patty Eldredge also grabbed six ground balls.
 
The teams alternated goals throughout the first half, going into halftime tied at 3. Sophomores Johnny Harding, Daniel Cano and Bryce Johnson scored for the Statesmen.
 
In the third quarter, Colgate eased in front on John Carrabine's goal, but senior Max Snellenberg answered finishing a shot on the crease set up by Dino. The Raiders scored back-to-back goals to take the only two-goal lead 6-4 with under three minutes left in the quarter. Senior Alex Begina fired home an extra-man goal off an assist from Bennett to get it back to a one-goal game heading into the fourth quarter.
 
Hobart tied the game at 6 with 5:12 remaining. Peterkin made a pass through traffic that Dino corralled, spun off one defender and scored with just two seconds left on the shot clock.
 
Colgate (1-2) scored what proved to be the game-winner with 3:33 left. Sophomore Freddy Fowler pounced on a dropped Hobart pass and dumped it into the Statesmen net.
 
Hobart (1-1) is scheduled to make its first road trip of the season when the Statesmen head to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, to take on Bucknell (2-1). The opening faceoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21.